What is a Regional Centre?
The Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) curriculum is disseminated through a global network of WLC Regional Centres (RCs) that act as “classrooms” for administering the courses in the respective regions. The RCs serve as teaching and resource centres for the program in addition to fulfilling the function as examination centres. Where possible, live course presentations are provided to the students, especially for the first (introductory) and final (laboratory-style, tutorial) courses.
The courses are administered and coordinated by local personnel at the RC, who have been previously trained in the course materials and are also serving as the main point of contact to students of that RC via email or online conferencing to address their questions or concerns.
Where are the WLC Regional Centres?
Below are the Regional Centres that are part of the Water Learning Centre:
- 1. CATHALAC, Clayton, Panama (courses also offered in Spanish)
- 2. Arabian Gulf University, Al-Manāmah, Bahrain (supported by Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development)
CATHALAC (Panama)
Established in 1992, the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and The Caribbean (Centro del Agua del Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y El Caribe, CATHALAC) is an international organization at the service of the humid tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean. Its objective is to promote sustainable development through applied research and development, education and technology transfer on water resources and the environment, facilitating the means to improve the quality of life in countries of the humid tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean. CATHALAC is recognized for its scientific, technical and educational agenda which is comprised of four thematic areas of work:
- A. Integrated Watershed Management
- B. Climate Change
- C. Environmental Assessment and Modeling
- D. Risk Management
With staff from different nationalities, participation in CATHALAC’s projects, programs and activities is open to all countries of the humid tropics in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC); as well as all nations outside of the region, intergovernmental, non-governmental, private and philanthropic organizations, including individuals interested in supporting the scientific, technical and educational agenda or the programmatic activities of the Center. CATHALAC adaptively manages a number of regional projects, in service of the people of the LAC region.
Through participation in multiple regional activities, CATHALAC has built an extensive network of research institutes, universities, governmental authorities, and donors that form the basic prerequisite for regional cooperation and coordinated research. The Center promotes, participates, and coordinates the elaboration of proposals for extensive regional projects. For more information, please see the CATHALAC brochure [pdf]. CATHALAC also offers the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) course in Spanish as part of the WLC Programme. For more information on the IWRM course, click here.
Contact information for CATHALAC is provided below.
Arabian Gulf University (Bahrain)
Located in Al-Manāmah, Bahrain, the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) focuses its efforts on fundamental regional issues of the Gulf Cooperation Council in health, human development, environment, science and technology and aims to contribute effectively to spreading the culture of knowledge and education in Arabian Gulf society (source).
As the Regional Centre serving the Gulf region, AGU delivers the WLC Programme in coordination with UNU-INWEH. If you reside in the Gulf region and are interested in applying to be part of the Water Learning Centre Programme or require more information, please contact the AGU regional coordinator.
Statistics
- • 13 Gulf countries represented: Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, UAE, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and Libya
- • Acceptance rate of 77% for applicants
Regional Coordinator: Prof. Waleed K. Al-Zubari
Dean of College of Graduate Studies; Acting Director, Water Resources Management Program
Contact: waleed@agu.edu.bh
Dr. Al-Zubari has taught many courses in Hydrogeology and Water Resources Management and Planning in Arid Regions, and has published more than 90 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and seminars. He also serves as a consultant for many international and regional organizations, including UNESCO, UNEP, UNDP, ESCWA, and FAO.